The Pacific White-Sided Dolphins
Cover Image:
Pacific White Sided Dolphins heading east at Bjerre Rock, Okisollo Channel
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
It is very common to see Pacific White-Sided dolphins here in BC as they are very abundant in inland waterways and out on the coast. These dolphins appear to have a lighter coloured side (light grey colour) compared to the top/dorsal side of the body which is a darker grey, hence the name they were given of “white-sided” dolphins. Dolphins can form large pods that can include hundreds of individuals and they display many behaviours at the surface, including full leaps out of the water. Our report includes two videos showing Pacific White-Sided dolphins swimming in the wakes of a couple of boats.
Transient Orca were displaying various behaviours including breaching and doing tail slaps. On a few occasions, Transient Orca were observed hunting dolphins and seals. Larger groups of Transient Orca also formed numbering between 15 to 20 individuals. The T046B pod was observed a few times; this pod includes a younger Orca (about 2 years old with ID #T046B1B) that is white in colour.
Many Humpback whales are in a number of waterways, including Sutil Channel, Calm Channel, and Discovery Passage. Some of the Humpbacks were seen foraging and one was observed doing tail lobs. Rounding our report are a few sightings of Dall’s porpoises and Harbour porpoises. How can you recognize a porpoise from a dolphin? Some of the characteristics of porpoises are the following: (1) Porpoises are smaller than dolphins and rarely display behaviours at the surface (e.g. leaping out of the water); (2) Porpoises have smaller mouths and less-pronounced beaks compared to dolphins; (3) Porpoises have triangular dorsal fins whereas dolphins have curved dorsal fins.
Boaters, please use caution on the water. Remember N.E.W.S. when you see a whale, meaning put your boat in NEUTRAL, ENJOY the view, WAIT till the whales are at a fair distance, and then SLOWLY leave the scene.
The Federal Government (DFO) has issued the following statement about watching whales in the wild: “To address disturbance in the presence of whales, a mandatory 400-metre vessel approach distance for all killer whales is in effect starting June 1, 2020 in all southern British Columbia coastal waters between Campbell River and just north of Ucluelet. The Marine Mammal Regulations continue to remain in effect year-round, including maintaining a minimum 200 metre approach distance from all killer whales in Canadian Pacific waters other than described above, and 100 metres for other whales, porpoises and dolphins OR 200 metres when the animal is in resting position or with a calf.”
WOWs works throught the year, so please continue to keep your eyes open, and report your sightings to us.
Ivan Ng, Wild Ocean Whale Society
Society News & Events
COVID-19 Updates:
We hope you are all staying safe and healthy. Updated event schedules will be posted as they become available.
Our yearly Dwight Hall fundraising dinner, instrumental to maintain all of our basic programs and online presence, has been cancelled for 2020 and is now scheduled for April 24, 2021. We are trusting that by then we will be able to hold a successful event. Your donations are greatly needed and appreciated.
Instagram and Twitter:
Instagram at Wildoceanwhalesociety and Twitter at WhalesDolphins accounts. Follow us for regular updates and photos.
Coming Soon:
Our New Archive Dataset Interface is in the works, but we don't want to hold up any ongoing research. To access 21,000+ sightings in our database in a downloadable csv file for use in a spreadsheet, please Click Here. to fill in your request.
Whales and Dolphins BC Website:
Teaching Resources: We continue to update lessons, activities and resources on our website. Teachers can download information as needed for classes. Have you taken our Orca and Humpback Quizzes yet?
Real Time Monitoring Station Live Update
Our Cetacean Web Camera YouTube Channel is live. We continue live streaming from our Powell River camera.
Thank You to our Volunteers and Contributors!
Our team of online Volunteers continue to do a great job in making sure all your sightings reports are mapped and published regularly. Would you like to join us?
Review our current Volunteer Job Postings
Sightings Update
SIGHTINGS MAP – ISSUE: 2020-012
TRANSIENT BIGGS KILLER WHALES
Tue Jun 16 2020
13:56 • est. 6-8 Biggs Orca heading north below Grief Point, Malaspina Strait.
Radio, overheard or call out
14:20 • est. 4+ Biggs Orca hunting, below Myrtle Point, Malaspina Strait. Orca stalled hunting dolphins.
Jim Southern, Powell River, BC
14:28 • 5 Biggs Orca playing on the surface, heading south just off Black (Albion) Point, Malaspina Strait. One very large dorsal and 3-4 smaller. Looks like a couple babies too. A large powerboat zigzaged through them about 3 times. The Orca turned north eventually 30 minutes later at around 3pm.
Bill Taylor, Powell River, BC
16:06 • est. 15 Biggs Orca spread out & hunting, between Myrtle Point and Black (Albion) Point, Malaspina Strait. Orca still hunting, chasing lags (dolphins). Huge leaps.
Jim Southern, Powell River, BC
16:53 • Biggs Orca milling, between Black (Albion) Point and Myrtle Point, Malaspina Strait.
Bill Taylor, Powell River, BC
18:09 • Biggs Orca spread out, heading north off Grief Point, Malaspina Strait. A few Orca with some pretty big fins.
Barry Rice, Powell River, BC
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Transient Biggs Killer Whales breaching near Grief Point, Malaspina Strait
Tue, 16 Jun 2020 – 4 items
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Transient Biggs Killer Whales breaching near Grief Point, Malaspina Strait
Tue, 16 Jun 2020 – 4 items
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
19:26 • est. 10 Biggs Orca heading north close to Texada Island, Malaspina Strait. Observed from Powell River. ▫ Observed from Shore
Susan MacKay, Wild Ocean Whale Society
Wed Jun 17 2020
07:22 • est. 10+ Biggs Orca heading north by Big Rock, Campbell River, Georgia Strait.
Elvis Chikite, Big Animal Encounters
07:30 • est. 5 Biggs Orca foraging, heading north off Hidden Harbour, Campbell River, Discovery Passage. ▫ Observed from Shore
JR, Campbell River, BC
13:00 • 2 Biggs Orca ◦T101A,T101B◦ resting, at Chatham Point, Discovery Passage. Holding the flood.
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions
15:00 • 2 Biggs Orca off Chatham Point.
Natalie Evans, Blind Channel Resort
15:00 • Biggs Orca ◦T023s,T100s,T101s,T102,T124A2s◦ entering Frederick Arm.
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions
16:00 • Biggs Orca in Frederick Arm. ▫ Leaving the Scene
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Transient Biggs Killer Whales – T101s, T100s & T23s – near Frederick Arm
Wed, 17 Jun 2020 – 6 items
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Transient Biggs Killer Whales – T101s, T100s & T23s – near Frederick Arm
Wed, 17 Jun 2020 – 6 items
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
Thu Jun 18 2020
10:00 • Biggs Orca in Okeover Inlet. Two groups. ▫ Second Hand
John Hermsen, Footprint Kayak and Hike Explorations
11:00 • Biggs Orca heading south off Deepwater Bay, Quadra Island, Discovery Passage.
Wayne Wright, Campbell River
11:36 • 2 Biggs Orca ◦T101A,T101B◦ in Deepwater Bay, Quadra Island.
12:07 • 2 Biggs Orca ◦T101A,T101B◦ moving slowly, heading south in Plumper Bay, Discovery Passage. ▫ Leaving the Scene
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions
Fri Jun 19 2020
06:15 • est. 6+ Biggs Orca breaching, heading south-east in front of Westview, Powell River, Malaspina Strait. Breaching, spy hops, tail slaps, for over an hour. ▫ Observed from Shore
SW, Powell River, BC
07:22 • Biggs Orca ◦T046B1B,T046Bs◦ spread out, heading north between Powell River Viewpoint and Blubber Bay, Malaspina Strait. White Orca in the group (T046B1B).
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
White orca T046B1B spotted with the T046Bs in Malaspina Strait
Fri, 19 Jun 2020 – 5 items
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
White orca T046B1B spotted with the T046Bs in Malaspina Strait
Fri, 19 Jun 2020 – 5 items
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
07:30 • est. 7-8 Biggs Orca tail slaps, heading south at Westview, Powell River, Malaspina Strait. Animals were moving moderately fast in 2 seperate groups. Activities included breaching by 2 whales at the same time, tail slaps and sharp sudden turns at the surface. ▫ Observed from Shore
Steve & Susan Grover, Powell River, BC
07:30 • est. 4+ Biggs Orca breaching, heading south off of Powell River Viewpoint, Malaspina Strait. On webcam, did a sudden turn south off Powell River Viewpoint.
Susan MacKay, Wild Ocean Whale Society
07:46 • est. 10 Biggs Orca headed towards Grief Point, Malaspina Strait.
Barry Rice, Powell River, BC
08:27 • est. 6 Biggs Orca playing, heading south by Grief Point.
Joan Treen, Powell River and Savary Island, BC
08:58 • est. 12+ Biggs Orca breaching, heading south across from and below Myrtle Point, Malaspina Strait. Following a log boom.
Jim Southern, Powell River, BC
Sat Jun 20 2020
07:00 • Biggs Orca ◦T046Bs◦ at Grace Islands, Collingwood Channel. Pod was on a kill.
07:30 • Biggs Orca ◦T046Bs◦ heading east towards Hope Point, Gambier Island, Collingwood Channel. Includes T046B1s.
14:50 • 7 Biggs Orca ◦T046Bs◦ milling, off Grace Islands, Gambier Harbour, Collingwood Channel. Includes T046B1s.
Reuben Buerge, Eagle Eye Adventures
Tue Jun 23 2020
–:– • Biggs Orca heading north between Denman Island and Hornby Island, Lambert Channel. Word on facebook from a fishing guide. Including white orca. ▫ Second Hand
Andrew Rice, Campbell River Whale Watching
Thu Jun 25 2020
19:07 • est. 4 Biggs Orca heading north by Myrtle Point, Malaspina Strait.
Jim Southern, Powell River, BC
19:39 • 2 Biggs Orca heading north out from the park at Grief Point, Malaspina Strait. ▫ Second Hand
Barry Rice, Powell River, BC
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Kayaker gets an up close encounter!
Thu, 25 Jun 2020 – 4 items
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Kayaker gets an up close encounter!
Thu, 25 Jun 2020 – 4 items
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
20:26 • 3 Biggs Orca heading north just passed the Powell River Ferry Terminal aiming now towards the Powell River Mill (Pulp & Paper), Malaspina Strait. One big fin at least.
Susan MacKay, Wild Ocean Whale Society
21:07 • 6 Biggs Orca centre Strait beween Harwood Island and Texada Island, Malaspina Strait. ▫ Observed from Shore
Barry Rice, Powell River, BC
Fri Jun 26 2020
08:13 • Biggs Orca at the north end of Lewis Channel. VHF report heard. ▫ Second Hand
12:49 • 2+ Biggs Orca heading north passing Campbell River, Discovery Passage. 2 males and others. ▫ Second Hand
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions
14:10 • Biggs Orca heading north passed Browns Bay, Discovery Passage. ▫ Second Hand
Wayne Wright, Campbell River
14:40 • est. 14+ Biggs Orca ◦T002Cs,T023s,T100s,T101s◦ heading north almost at Eagles Cove, Discovery Passage.
Josh Grin, Discovery West Adventures
15:43 • Biggs Orca heading north at Elk Bay, Discovery Passage.
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions
16:15 • Biggs Orca heading north at Chatham Point, Discovery Passage. ▫ Leaving the Scene
Jess Cavanagh, Blind Channel Resort
17:00 • Biggs Orca milling, off Otter Cove, Discovery Passage. ▫ Leaving the Scene
Wayne Wright, Campbell River
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Transient Biggs Killer Whales milling in Discovery Passage
Fri, 26 Jun 2020 – 6 items
Wayne Wright, Campbell River, BC
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Transient Biggs Killer Whales milling in Discovery Passage
Fri, 26 Jun 2020 – 6 items
Wayne Wright, Campbell River, BC
19:30 • Biggs Orca heading north between bottom Turn Island and Rock Bay, Johnstone Strait. Big group. ▫ Leaving the Scene
Wayne Wright, Campbell River
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Transient Biggs Killer Whales heading north by Rock Bay, Johnstone Strait
Fri, 26 Jun 2020 – 1 items
Wayne Wright, Campbell River, BC
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Transient Biggs Killer Whales heading north by Rock Bay, Johnstone Strait
Fri, 26 Jun 2020 – 1 items
Wayne Wright, Campbell River, BC
SPECIES SUPPLEMENT
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Transient Biggs Killer Whales – T002Cs, T023s, T100s & T101s – in Discovery Passage
Fri, 26 Jun 2020 – 10 items
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
SPECIES SUPPLEMENT
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Transient Biggs Killer Whales – T002Cs, T023s, T100s & T101s – in Discovery Passage
Fri, 26 Jun 2020 – 10 items
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
UNIDENTIFIED KILLER WHALES
Sun Jun 21 2020
17:30 • est. 6-12 Orca breaching, heading south near Florencia Bay, Ucluelet, Pacific Ocean. Seen two consecutive days – June 20 and 21 at 5:30pm. First day closer to shore at Storm Watch lookout in Ucluelet with lots of activity – breaching and tail slapping and slowly moving south. Seen the second day from the same vantage point but much further south – maybe by Terrace beach. ▫ Observed from Shore
Danika Milne and Vy Nguyen, Victoria, BC
HUMPBACK WHALES
Tue Jun 16 2020
06:40 • est. 1-2 Humpback Whales at the south end of Whale Passage, Sutil Channel.
Jerry Weldon, Campbell River
17:17 • Humpback Whales milling, at Rock Bay, Johnstone Strait. At the breakwater just chilling.
Eliot Richter, Blind Channel Resort
Wed Jun 17 2020
06:50 • 1 Humpback Whales milling, off Tucker Point, West Thurlow Island, Chancellor Channel.
Jess Cavanagh, Blind Channel Resort
16:25 • 1 Humpback Whales heading south by Willow Point, Georgia Strait.
Elvis Chikite, Big Animal Encounters
Thu Jun 18 2020
08:15 • Humpback Whales between Cape Mudge Green Can Buoy and Baker Passage, Georgia Strait.
Dean Parsonage, 50 North Adventures
08:30 • 6 Humpback Whales off the bottom of Cortes Island, Georgia Strait.
Wayne Wright, Campbell River
12:45 • 2 Humpback Whales foraging, off Breton Islands near Heriot Bay, Sutil Channel.
14:00 • 2 Humpback Whales breaching, on the ferry line between Whaletown and Heriot Bay, Sutil Channel.
Terry Brown and Jude Abrams, Otter Be Good Productions
14:22 • Humpback Whales at Bartlett Islet, Calm Channel. Small one.
Leigh Nelson, Adventure Quest Tours
14:42 • 2 Humpback Whales ◦BCY Bumpy,BCY Slits◦ heading north off Sheer Point, Read Island, Hoskyn Channel.
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions
15:55 • 1 Humpback Whales on the Quadra side, in front of Plunger Passage, Sutil Channel. ▫ Leaving the Scene
17:23 • Humpback Whales between Mitlenatch Island and Hernando Island, Georgia Strait.
18:29 • Humpback Whales mid channel in front of Cape Mudge Village on Quadra Island, Discovery Passage.
Leigh Nelson, Adventure Quest Tours
Fri Jun 19 2020
10:41 • est. 7 Humpback Whales off of Cortez Reef, Georgia Strait. Schooled together.
Elvis Chikite, Big Animal Encounters
14:00 • Humpback Whales off Jimmy Judd Island, Yuculta Rapids.
Wayne Wright, Campbell River
Sat Jun 20 2020
06:45 • Humpback Whales off Edith Point at the west end of East Thurlow Island, Johnstone Strait.
Natalie Evans, Blind Channel Resort
Sun Jun 21 2020
10:30 • est. 1-2 Humpback Whales heading north-east south of Major Rock Islet off Lund, Malaspina Strait.
Michael Williams, Savary Island, BC
11:19 • est. 1-2 Humpback Whales south of Mitlenatch Island, Georgia Strait.
11:40 • Humpback Whales doing circles, west of Mitlenatch Island.
Leigh Nelson, Adventure Quest Tours
12:25 • Humpback Whales doing circles, west of Mitlenatch Island.
Tyler Bruce, Campbell River Whale Watching
16:27 • Humpback Whales between North Rendezvous Island and Hole in the Wall, Calm Channel.
Leigh Nelson, Adventure Quest Tours
16:40 • Humpback Whales tail lobs, between Channe Island and East Thurlow Island, Cordero Channel.
Jess Cavanagh, Blind Channel Resort
Mon Jun 22 2020
13:15 • 2 Humpback Whales foraging, at Quathiaski Cove, Quadra Island, Discovery Passage. ▫ Second Hand
Tyler Bruce, Campbell River Whale Watching
13:15 • 1 Humpback Whales foraging, in Quathiaski Cove, Discovery Passage. Observed feeding on Herring.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
Humpback Whales
A Humpback taking flight!
Mon, 22 Jun 2020 – 2 items
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
Humpback Whales
A Humpback taking flight!
Mon, 22 Jun 2020 – 2 items
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
14:15 • 1 Humpback Whales heading south off Church House, Calm Channel.
Tyler Bruce, Campbell River Whale Watching
Tue Jun 23 2020
08:36 • Humpback Whales in the shallows near Wilby Shoals, Georgia Strait.
08:50 • Humpback Whales around halfway on the ferry line to Cortes Island, Sutil Channel.
Leigh Nelson, Adventure Quest Tours
13:40 • 4 Humpback Whales heading north in Sutil Channel. There were two groups of two humpbacks. ▫ Leaving the Scene
Terry Brown and Jude Abrams, Otter Be Good Productions
Wed Jun 24 2020
08:50 • 1 Humpback Whales one mile out from Lund, Malaspina Strait.
Jerry Weldon, Campbell River
09:36 • 2 Humpback Whales heading south abeam the Quadra Island cell tower mid Sutil Channel.
09:45 • est. 2-3 Humpback Whales off the Quadra Island Scallop Farm south of Heriot Bay, Sutil Channel.
Reuben Buerge, Eagle Eye Adventures
10:19 • est. 1+ Humpback Whales near Sentry Shoal, Georgia Strait.
Leigh Nelson, Adventure Quest Tours
11:45 • 2 Humpback Whales off Bartlett Islet, Calm Channel.
Josh Grin, Discovery West Adventures
12:33 • 2 Humpback Whales heading north at the top end of Lewis Channel.
Dean Parsonage, 50 North Adventures
16:25 • Humpback Whales heading east off Erasmus Island, Cordero Channel.
Wayne Wright, Campbell River
Humpback Whales
Humpbacks by Erasmus Island, Cordero Channel
Wed, 24 Jun 2020 – 1 items
Wayne Wright, Campbell River, BC
Humpback Whales
Humpbacks by Erasmus Island, Cordero Channel
Wed, 24 Jun 2020 – 1 items
Wayne Wright, Campbell River, BC
17:37 • 1 Humpback Whales near Major Rock Islet off Lund, Malaspina Strait.
Leigh Nelson, Adventure Quest Tours
18:23 • 3 Humpback Whales between Cape Lazo and the north end of Texada Island, Georgia Strait.
Bill Coltart, Big Animal Encounters
Thu Jun 25 2020
08:45 • 1 Humpback Whales off the Quadra Island cell tower mid Sutil Channel.
08:53 • 2 Humpback Whales off the submerged cables mid Sutil Channel.
Reuben Buerge, Eagle Eye Adventures
10:17 • 2 Humpback Whales moving slowly, heading north 1.5 nautical miless off Marina Island halfway from the submereged cables to the ferry line between Heriot Bay and Whaletown Ferry Terminal, Sutil Channel.
11:30 • 2 Humpback Whales heading south toward Bullock Bluff, Deer Passage.
13:06 • 1 Humpback Whales doing circles, close to shore off Bartlett Islet, Calm Channel.
Robin Pears, Campbell River Whale Watching
13:14 • Humpback Whales near the top of Lewis Channel. Active.
13:41 • Humpback Whales playing, off Quadra Island Scallop Farm south of Heriot Bay, Sutil Channel.
Dean Parsonage, 50 North Adventures
Fri Jun 26 2020
08:07 • 1 Humpback Whales at Cinque Islands, Discovery Passage.
Jess Cavanagh, Blind Channel Resort
09:10 • 2 Humpback Whales heading north in Whale Passage, Sutil Channel. Mom and calf.
09:25 • Humpback Whales heading north off North Rendezvous Island, Calm Channel.
Wayne Wright, Campbell River
11:32 • 2 Humpback Whales off Center Islet north-west of Subtle Islands, Sutil Channel.
Radio, overheard or call out
11:45 • 1 Humpback Whales east side of Twin Islands, Malaspina Strait.
Reuben Buerge, Eagle Eye Adventures
12:00 • 1 Humpback Whales between Hornby Island and Gillies Bay, Georgia Strait.
Bradden Kiley, Painters Lodge, Campbell River
12:38 • 2 Humpback Whales moving slowly, heading east top of Cortes Island, Calm Channel.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
Humpback Whales
Humpbacks moving slowly by Cortes Island
Fri, 26 Jun 2020 – 4 items
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
Humpback Whales
Humpbacks moving slowly by Cortes Island
Fri, 26 Jun 2020 – 4 items
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
12:45 • 2 Humpback Whales milling at the top of Lewis Channel.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
13:00 • 1 Humpback Whales heading north at Elk Bay, Discovery Passage.
Josh Grin, Discovery West Adventures
15:54 • Humpback Whales mid channel out from Duncan Bay north of Campbell River, Discovery Passage.
Jerry Weldon, Campbell River
16:00 • 1 Humpback Whales heading south mid channel off the Walcan Seafood Quadra Island, Discovery Passage.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
19:55 • Humpback Whales heading south, Seymour Narrows, Discovery Passage.
Wayne Wright, Campbell River
PACIFIC WHITE SIDED DOLPHINS
Thu Jun 18 2020
08:40 • est. 100 PWS Dolphins heading west near Stag Bay, Hernando Island, Baker Passage.
Wayne Wright, Campbell River
18:40 • est. 20 PWS Dolphins off Cinque Islands, Discovery Passage.
Jess Cavanagh, Blind Channel Resort
Fri Jun 19 2020
10:45 • est. 100+ PWS Dolphins foraging in Hole in the Wall.
12:00 • est. 100+ PWS Dolphins foraging, Hole in the Wall.
Wayne Wright, Campbell River
Pacific White Sided Dolphins
Pacific White-Sided Dolphins foraging by Hole in the Wall
Fri, 19 Jun 2020 – 1 items
Wayne Wright, Campbell River, BC
Pacific White Sided Dolphins
Pacific White-Sided Dolphins foraging by Hole in the Wall
Fri, 19 Jun 2020 – 1 items
Wayne Wright, Campbell River, BC
14:45 • 75+ PWS Dolphins milling at the west end of Hole in the Wall. ▫ Leaving the Scene
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
Pacific White Sided Dolphins
Pacific White Sided Dolphins milling at Hole in the Wall
Fri, 19 Jun 2020 – 6 items
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
Pacific White Sided Dolphins
Pacific White Sided Dolphins milling at Hole in the Wall
Fri, 19 Jun 2020 – 6 items
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
Sun Jun 21 2020
12:10 • PWS Dolphins at Chatham Point, Discovery Passage. Large group.
Jess Cavanagh, Blind Channel Resort
13:00 • 1 PWS Dolphins bow riding, north of Village Bay, Quadra Island, Hoskyn Channel. Young dolphin. ▫ From Power or Sail Boat
Terry Brown and Jude Abrams, Otter Be Good Productions
14:45 • est. 60 PWS Dolphins heading east at Bjerre Rock, Okisollo Channel.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
Pacific White Sided Dolphins
Pacific White Sided Dolphins heading east at Bjerre Rock, Okisollo Channel
Sun, 21 Jun 2020 – 4 items
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
Pacific White Sided Dolphins
Pacific White Sided Dolphins heading east at Bjerre Rock, Okisollo Channel
Sun, 21 Jun 2020 – 4 items
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
Mon Jun 22 2020
09:30 • PWS Dolphins milling, outside of Deepwater Bay, Quadra Island, Discovery Passage. Seen spread out, mid channel.
Jerry Weldon, Campbell River
12:45 • PWS Dolphins foraging, off Copper Bluffs, Quadra Island, Discovery Passage.
16:07 • PWS Dolphins foraging, off Separation Head, Quadra Island, Discovery Passage.
Tyler Bruce, Campbell River Whale Watching
Tue Jun 23 2020
06:45 • est. 30 PWS Dolphins heading north in Rock Bay, Johnstone Strait.
Natalie Evans, Blind Channel Resort
Wed Jun 24 2020
15:00 • est. 70-80 PWS Dolphins off Dent Island, Dent Rapids.
Josh Grin, Discovery West Adventures
Pacific White Sided Dolphins
Pacific White Sided Dolphins off Dent Island
Wed, 24 Jun 2020 – 1 items
Josh Grin, Discovery West Adventures
Pacific White Sided Dolphins
Pacific White Sided Dolphins off Dent Island
Wed, 24 Jun 2020 – 1 items
Josh Grin, Discovery West Adventures
15:30 • PWS Dolphins heading towards Jimmy Judd Island, Yuculta Rapids.
Josh Grin, Discovery West Adventures
Thu Jun 25 2020
10:50 • est. 60-70 PWS Dolphins moving slowly, heading north between Hill Island and Carrington Bay, Sutil Channel. At 10:57, they were approaching Penn Islands and they were spread out one-quarter mile still heading north.
Robin Pears, Campbell River Whale Watching
13:14 • PWS Dolphins off Whale Passage, Sutil Channel.
Dean Parsonage, 50 North Adventures
Fri Jun 26 2020
08:00 • PWS Dolphins at Cinque Islands, Discovery Passage. Tight knit group.
Jess Cavanagh, Blind Channel Resort
12:12 • est. 60+ PWS Dolphins foraging at the top of Lewis Channel.
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions
19:40 • PWS Dolphins heading south off Moriarty Point, Discovery Passage. Small pod along the west shore.
Wayne Wright, Campbell River
SPECIES SUPPLEMENT
Pacific White Sided Dolphins
Pacific White-Sided Dolphins leaping through the air
Mon, 22 Jun 2020 – 1 items
Wayne Wright, Campbell River, BC
SPECIES SUPPLEMENT
Pacific White Sided Dolphins
Pacific White-Sided Dolphins leaping through the air
Mon, 22 Jun 2020 – 1 items
Wayne Wright, Campbell River, BC
SPECIES SUPPLEMENT
Pacific White Sided Dolphins
Baby dolphin having fun!
Wed, 24 Jun 2020 – 1 items
Jos Krynen, Eagle Eye Adventures
SPECIES SUPPLEMENT
Pacific White Sided Dolphins
Baby dolphin having fun!
Wed, 24 Jun 2020 – 1 items
Jos Krynen, Eagle Eye Adventures
DALLS PORPOISE
Sun Jun 21 2020
13:40 • est. 3-4 Dalls Porpoise heading north, north of Major Rock Islet close to Copeland Islands, Malaspina Strait.
John Hermsen, Footprint Kayak and Hike Explorations
15:20 • Dalls Porpoise at Horn Point, Dent Rapids. Active.
Jess Cavanagh, Blind Channel Resort
HARBOUR PORPOISE
Fri Jun 19 2020
06:10 • est. 8-10 Harbour Porpoise moving slowly, heading south off Whytecliff Park in West Vancouver, Queen Charlotte Channel. Pod seen a second time further south at 6:18am. ▫ Observed from Shore
Ivan Ng, North Vancouver, BC
Fri Jun 26 2020
07:22 • est. 3-4 Harbour Porpoise heading south at Whytecliff Park in West Vancouver. Surfaced three times within 10 minutes. Possible calf in pod as a porpoise with a low profile was observed when it surfaced. ▫ Observed from Shore
Ivan Ng, North Vancouver, BC
18:15 • est. 6 Harbour Porpoise between Apple River and Wickson Creek, Loughborough Inlet.
Wayne Wright, Campbell River
Archive Explorer
Archive Explorer navigates 21,000+ Cetacean Sightings, images, videos and audio recordings.
*Recommended for desktop browsers and newer mobile devices
Archive Explorer dives into the Coastal Cetacean world. View Cetacean sighting locations, photos and videos:
- All species including Orca, Humpback, Grey Whale or Dalls Porpoise
- Follow the endangered Southern Residents Orca in the Salish Sea
- Search for encounters with T002C2 Tumbo
- Witness a close-up Orca encounter video in Port Alberni harbour
- Follow the T010s Transients as they hunt and travel the inside passage
- Track "KC", the ever popular Humpback's movements
- Locate any of 12,000 named locations on the BC and WA State coast
- Print custom sighting reports and maps (Coming Soon)
Archive Explorer Help Page explains many advanced functions
Send your Comments and Questions to: Archive Explorer Feedback
COMING SOON: Our New Archive Dataset Interface is in the works, but we don't want to hold up any ongoing research.
To access 21,000+ sightings in our database to November issue #2019-049 in a downloadable csv file for use in a spreadsheet, please Click Here.
The Magazine
REGIONAL & NATIONAL
Alaska Public Media
Bowhead whales are on their way to Canada for the summer months, and whaling communities in the Bering Strait region have reported a successful spring hunting season. Despite these annual events continuing as normal, researchers have recently found some bowheads deviating from their usual movements.
Bowhead whales are creatures of habit. They spend their summers in the Amundsen Gulf and the Tuktoyaktuk Shelf region of Canada and then migrate along the northern coast of Alaska past Utqiagvik, before going south to the Bering Sea, where they stay for the winter….
read on
Hakai Magazine
The endangered beluga whales living in Alaska’s Cook Inlet are still declining in number, despite protections put in place 20 years ago and the adoption of a recovery plan in 2016.
The latest population estimate-released in January, based on a survey from June 2018-is only 279 animals, down from 328 just two years before. The federal agency in charge of whale management, the National Marine Fisheries Service, has called the trend "concerning."…
read on
CBC News
A significant drop in sea traffic brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic has created what scientists call a rare opportunity to study how quieter waters affect southern resident killer whales off the British Columbia coast.
Ocean Networks Canada, which has been monitoring noise from ships and sounds made by marine mammals such as orcas, said it believes the change will be a boon for the animals….
read on
SPECIAL SIGHTINGS
Metro (UK)
One of the world’s rarest species of whale has been discovered stranded in the United Kingdom for the first time, researchers say. The female True’s beaked whale was found at Kearvaig Bay in Sutherland earlier this year….
read on
read on
ABC News (San Diego)
SAN DIEGO (KGTV) – Drone footage recently captured a rare sighting of a blue whale off San Diego’s coastline, as it swims right up to a small boat.
Domenic Biagini, owner of Gone Whale Watching, says he’s already starting to see blue whale sightings off San Diego’s coastline this season. In one video he captured, a whale swims up to his boat to investigate before disappearing below the water’s surface….
read on
RESEARCH & CONSERVATION
Forbes
In the US, the most exposure people usually have to dolphins in aquariums or on TV, but along India’s west coast, interactions with the Indian Ocean humpback dolphin (Sousa plumbea) are reasonably common – and can lead to conflict.
Indian marine biologist Ketki Jog, currently pursuing her PhD at James Cook University in Australia, is studying the humpback dolphins along a 75 miles stretch of the Sindhudurg district coastline of Maharashtra state, India – and their interaction with the fisherman of the 30-odd villages in the area….
read on
American Geophysical Union
WASHINGTON-With the help of Inuit hunters, geophysicists recently recorded the various calls, buzzes, clicks and whistles of narwhals as they summered in a Greenland fjord. The recordings help scientists better understand the soundscape of Arctic glacial fjords and provide valuable insight into the behavior of these shy and mysterious creatures, according to the researchers….
read on
read on